PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

Our Parish Pastoral Council meets monthly/bi-monthly and is involved in three areas:

1. By becoming familiar with all aspects of parish life, we advise and assist the Parish Priest on policy matters and decision making related to the parish. 
2. We seek to support and to stimulate the various volunteers and ministries operating within the parish, without regulating or interfering with their mode of operation. 
3. We continually review the needs of the parish, and develop our parish strategy and initiatives, to meet these needs.

Our Parish Pastoral Team members are:

Parish Pastoral Council (PPC)

Our PPC Members

Fr Aloysius Lamere

Parish Priest

Since Feb 2021, I have been privileged to be the Parish Priest at St Thomas the Apostle Parish in Blackburn, a welcoming and loving parish community for over 70 years.

A little bit about myself… I took my first profession as a Missionary of the Sacred Heart (MSC) on 15 July 1986 and was ordained as a priest in the Ambon diocese of Indonesia on 6 Dec 1992.

After that, I spent 4 years in 2 parishes, was appointed Director of the Pastoral Centre of the Archdiocese and the Principal of a High School in Indonesia. I also undertook Pastoral Studies in the Philippines at East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI).

In 2000, I was appointed to teach at the MSC candidates at the Pastoral Institute in Kiribati and looked after the MSC aspirants.

In 2001, I was sent to the Philippines to undertake Formation studies at Asian Religious Formation Institute (ARFI).

In 2002, I was appointed as Novice Master in Fiji.

In 2003, I was appointed as the Superior for the MSC Pacific Union which comprised Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia.

In 2006, I was transferred back to Indonesia as Novice Master.

Between 2008 and 2012, I was appointed as Secretary for the Province of Indonesia and Secretary of Asia Pacific Islands and Australia (APIA).

In 2012, I undertook the Siloam Program for the formation of spiritual directors at Heart of Life in Melbourne, while residing at St Thomas the Apostle Parish, Blackburn.

Between 2013 and 2021, I was the Parish Priest at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Kensington in Sydney.

I am inspired to serve our parish by living the MSC Spirituality of the Heart. This involves making the journey into my own heart and into the heart of the community to encounter the compassionate heart of Jesus.

Anand Rego

PPC Chair

We arrived in the parish in October 2007, a month after my wife Navaz and our children Ava and Ari migrated from India.

It’s great to be back a second time, after being on the PPC between 2009 and 2019.

As a choir leader with Navaz and Bernie at our Sunday 5 pm mass, I enjoy singing and praying together with the choir and parishioners.

I was also privileged to be a Youth Leader with the Youth Ministry Advisory Team, Six-to-Eight Youth Group, Tenebrae and Starfish gardening program between 2010 to 2019.

My family and I are grateful as we continue to be nourished in our faith journey within a loving and welcoming parish community. 

Do reach out to me or anyone from the PPC with ideas or suggestions for our parish. 

Angela Pillai

PPC Member

Governance, SafeGuarding Committee, Fundraising 

I have been a member of the parish for over ten years.

I’m in my second year on the Parish Pastoral Council.

I’m also currently a SafeGuarding Committee member, which is an important area of governance to ensure that SafeGuarding practices are upheld for children and vulnerable people in our parish.

I also enjoy being a lector at the Sunday evening mass and was privileged to be the Chair of St Thomas’ 70^th Anniversary Committee.

Through these roles, I endeavour to foster a welcoming and safe environment for all.

I am blessed to be able to serve with humility and to help guide our parish forward in faith and mission.

Anton Halabut

PPC Member

Mission, Outreach & Social

My wife Pearl and I moved to Blackburn and became a part of St Thomas the Apostle Parish two years ago.

We have four adult children and keep in regular contact with them and our six grandchildren.

After retiring as an Accountant, I began volunteering particularly with the St Vincent de Paul Society. Also, during this time I undertook theological studies at Yarra Theological Union in Box Hill (YTU).

Through the Parish Pastoral Council, I look forward to increasing our faith journey by sharing my experiences at YTU. 

Bernard Marmion

PPC Member

Mission and Outreach

My family and I have been active members of our parish for over 60 years.

After I retired from my career in Engineering Marketing and Business Management and a being a district governor for Toastmasters Australia, I completed a Bachelor in Theology at Yarra Theological Union (YTU). 

I have been on the PPC for three years and have enjoyed being involved in a number of areas including: Alpha, Hospitality, St Thomas’ 70^th Anniversary Committee, Parish Welcome Pack, School Fete and Lectio Divina Bible Study.

I particularly enjoy playing an active role in faith formation in our lovely parish.

Chris Ying

PPC Secretary

Youth, Hospitality, Pastoral Faith Formation

I have been attending masses at the parish since September 2016. 

You can usually find me at the 10:30am mass with my wife, Mary, and my daughter, Erica, or at the 5pm mass contributing music by playing bass with the choir.

I also coordinate the meal share every 4^th Sunday of the month after the 5pm Sunday mass. 

As a father with a young daughter, I look forward to continuing to build a strong faith community together with other families and young people of the parish. 

In addition to focusing on families, I have a strong interest in faith formation and am currently co-leading the Alpha program in our parish. 

If you see me around, please do say hi - always happy to have a chat. 

Marcus Gill

PPC Member

Principal, St Thomas The Apostle Primary School

Sacramental Program, School-Parish Engagement

I have been working in Catholic Schools for over 30 years.

I began my Principalship at St Thomas the Apostle in July 2024. Previously l was Principal of St Richard’s Kilsyth for 7 ½ years.

I live locally in Mitcham with my wife Lana and three children. My children attended St John’s Mitcham during their primary school years and they are now in their mid to late teenage years.

I feel privileged to be working in such a wonderful Parish and school community and look forward to supporting the PPC with their strategic plan and building the connections between the Parish and School.

Tony Moore

PPC Member

Finance Committee Member

Assets & Maintenance, Environment

I have been in the Parish since 1995 along with my wife, Loreto and our three now adult children.

This is my second term with the Parish Pastoral Council, having also been a committee member for 10 years in the 2000's.

I am also currently a member of the Finance Committee.

My role on the PPC is to be the custodian for Parish buildings and to enable our parish to adopt a strategic and planned approach to management of parish assets.

I’m also the PPC's delegate for financial management with a focus on annual budgeting to ensure we live within our means.